[OT] Which branch of the military should I go into?

[Tsyr]

I would suggest not Army... I have no military experience, but two of my friends (who were both raised by military parents, and thought they wanted to join the military from the time I first met them, many years ago) joined the Army and almost two years later they STILL whine endlessly every time they call me... one of them (jokingly, I hope) said he was considering shooting off his big toe to get out...

 

[Old One]

Ex-Army Officer Here...

Blackshirt,

Spent almost 15 years in the military (Army) - 9 active and 6 reserve...

I agree (somewhat) with those that say don't join just to get away from something...although that IS a time-honored reason for joining the military through the ages!

A lot depends on what you are looking to get out of your experience. If you want to find out what you are made of, how far you can push yourself and gain valuable leadership skills (regardless of rank), I suggest following in your ancestor's footsteps and joining the Marines. The don't call it "The Few. The Proud. The Marines." for nothing.

If you want to pick up excellent skills that translate well into later civilian life, I would suggest the Air Force first and Navy second. Both are heavy with high tech specialities that make transition back into civilian life with a good career a real possibility.

A word of warning on the National Guard...with numerous "low intensity" conflicts a strong likelihood in the foreseeable future a real possiblity...getting activiated from the Guard is a real possibilty...including overseas duty.

My fully biased opinion is that some manner of national service (Military, Peace Corps, Americorps, etc) should be mandatory for those graduating from high school...gives you a much broader perspective on life and the big, wide world we live in.

~ Old One

PS - At 40, I am considering rejoining the National Guard as a Reserve Officer !

 

[med stud]

Can you join special forces with glasses in the US? When I went through the tests for conscription here they almost didnt want me in the infantry because of my glasses (and all I wanted was to be a paratrooper )

If you cant afford college, I dont think there's no reason not to join the army. Otherwise you get some job that's probably a lot less rewarding anyway. After four years, you are only 23 years old after all.

And I think the risks of NATO militaries are less then the risks of driving a cab in a big city, if I got the right information, so I dont think that's a big deal.

 

[Lizard]

Based on feedback from my many ex-military friends...

Air Force. Good technical training, and, pretty high survivability unless you're actually flying missions, which isn't what the majority of Air Force people do on a daily basis. (One of my exes was ex-Air Force, and she spent most of the Vietnam era in Germany waiting for the Russians to march west. I'm pretty sure she never saw the inside of a cockpit.)

 

[Gargoyle]

I spent 9 yrs and 9 mos in the Air Force. Here's some random advice from an ex-zoomie:

1. My first day at boot camp the sergeants kept asking us one question: Why are you here? The correct answer isn't to get money for college (my answer), to get a job, for money (Ha!), to get chicks, or even to kill people. You are there to serve your country. Make sure that whatever other reasons you have, you keep that in mind.

2. The Air Force does have it the easiest, IMO, at least day-to-day. It's the only branch of the service where the enlisted stay on base and the officers fly off to fight:
Army troops in a foxhole, bullets whizzing overhead: "This sucks!".
Marine troops firing back at the enemy: "Man, I love how this sucks!"
Navy sailors looking in the distance from their ship: "Wow, it sure sucks over there!"
Special Forces crawling through the mud: "I wish this would suck some more!"
Air Force enlisted, reclining in his coed dorm with a remote: "What? No cable? This sucks!"

3. Go to a recruiter for each branch, and ask a lot of questions. Ask to visit a base before you sign up. Try to get them to guarantee your chosen job.

4. No matter what happens, keep a good attitude.

 

[Piratecat]

I suppose you vote Demopublican also, eh? For fascist politicians like Bush and Clinton?

I don't want to kill or be property either, but isn't that the ultimate goal of people like you: a disarmed, brainwashed weak population of Americans ready to be ruled for however long...?

*Clunk.* And there closes the thread. Blackshirt, I hope you got the advice you were looking for.

X-Ray Crossbow, welcome to the boards! We don't have many rules, but two big ones are "be polite" and "no politics." At least you managed not to swear or bring up religion, eh? Please keep these in mind for next time. Thanks!

Thread closed.